BUDDING, GRAFTING, ETC. 151 



from the roots as fast as they appear, and pinching early 

 any strong side shoots likely to weaken the leader. 



SECOND YEAK. Where the buds failed the previous 

 season, the stocks should now be whip-grafted near the 

 surface of the ground. They will be but little behind the 

 buds, and will make nearly as good trees, if neatly done. 

 Plums and cherries must be done before, or as soori as the 

 buds begin to swell (say in March, here) ; pears and ap- 

 ples may be <lone later. The second-sized stocks, planted 

 last season, and intended to be budded this, should, it' in a 

 feebly growing or stunted condition, be cut back to within 

 two or three inches of the surface of the ground. This 

 will give the roots new vigor, and thrifty shoots will be 

 made, by budding time, that will work more easily and 

 successfully than the old stock. In a month or so after 

 being cut down, all the shoots but the strongest one 

 should be removed. The stocks budded last season are 

 headed down to within three or four inches of the bud, 

 just as the leaves are beginning to appear ; and all buds 

 starting into growth on the stock, either below or above 

 them, are rubbed off. 



Treatment of the growing bud consists in keeping all 

 shoots that appear on the stock rubbed off. If side shoots 

 appear early, and are likely to contract the growth of the 

 leader, they should be pinched off. Any that assume a 

 reclining or crooked habit should be tied up to the stock, 

 or to a support, which may be a wooden pole, four feet 

 long, sunk a foot in the ground, at the root of the stock ; 

 both the stock and growing shoot should be fastened to 

 it (fig. 90), but not so close as to impede the growth. 

 This is only necessary with certain weak, irregular grow- 

 ing sorts. In August, the portion of the stock left above 

 the bud, at the heading down in the spring, should be re- 

 moved with a sloping cut, close and smooth, as at A (fig. 

 90), at the highest point of union between the bud and 

 stock. The new layers of wood made after this time 



